The most interesting article on the Interwebs about coffee brew ratios around the world has found its way to me. When we talk about brew ratio, we’re talking about the weight of coffee grounds to the weight of espresso in the cup; and this is an interesting insight on how different rations are used around the world in different countries.

What might be surprising, however, is that the traditional Italian method of making espresso is a 1:3 brew ratio. They have stuck to that formula for decades.So, while many specialty shops in the US and Europe use between 16-19 grams of coffee for espresso (yielding 24-38 grams of liquid), Italian cafes use about 7 grams of coffee that result in a 21 gram single shot of espresso.